Music – Taby goes SoHo

I have never experienced so many weather changes in such a short period as in NYC. Last Friday the temperature reached 90°F and the sun was shining from a clear blue sky, and the next day we woke up to a foggy city and slightly colder at only 64° F…

Alma was here and it is so wonderful that she comes twice a month and cleans the whole apartment. 🤗

In the afternoon Olle, Vira and I went shopping on Broadway and found slippers, swimming trunks and jeans shorts for the kids – Miami here we come!

Later on we hooked up with Johan and we had a drink at the Kaña Soho Bar, next to Ear Inn. And some lovely trivia about Ear Inn, it is located at 329 Spring Street in New York and is the oldest bar in the city, established in 1817. I had no idea as I sat there sipping a glass of Pinot Grigio a couple of weeks ago… 🙂

The next day Johan and I walked Brooklyn Bridge, roundtrip! We walked the streets of Brooklyn Heights, and had an amazing PW.

Almost back home, the chaos was so palpable and the NYPD police issued notices to vacate the premises… There was a pop-up store on 529 Broome Street giving away free sweatshirts and the swag giveaway descended into a real ‘shirt’-show.

Last Sunday Johan and I took the 2 Train to Harlem and the First Corinthian Baptist Church. This was more of a loud and boisterous show with many commercial breaks than a gospel performance, but fun to have experienced.

On this day Olle met with his friends from school and came home with a box of little clay creations he had made…😘 Here it seems typical for adolescents to gather at a venue; like at a cat-, board game- or like now an art café.

On June 5, DanAds threw an amazing 10 year anniversary party for clients, partners and colleagues at a really cool venue, the rooftop bar at Knickerbocker hotel on 6 Times Sq. It was a great evening with so many new, interesting and exciting acquaintances! I had a full night out, so happy to be invited. 🥳

The Swedish National Day came and we celebrated, although our focus was more on the Gösta Day with presents and smoothies.

Really alarming is the wildfire smoke from Canada and as from Wednesday morning NYC public schools canceled all outdoor activities and all New Yorkers (like all citizens the northeast coast) are recommended to stay inside due to the extremely poor air quality.

We have also heard that Toffee is OK, but had to return to the vet because she was a bit out of it from the pain killers… Hope to see her soon. (Note, after seeing her in the bodysuit outside the elevator, I feel confident she will be OK… 😊).

Thursday morning and we are heading for a mini-vacay to Miami Beach.🌴 School is closed due to Chancellor´s Conference Day (at least in Olle´s highschool…😏), so therefore he only misses Friday. We opted out the west coast because of the long flight, time difference and the too short time we could have stayed.

Especially Elvira is so happy to go. Just hang around the pool and take a dip in the Atlantic Ocean. Good food and lazy days and I second that! And due to the really poor air quality, this was the best time to get out of the city.

And the coolest, Olle was the winner for a trap competition. Out of three participating schools, he won 1st prize! Congrats! 🎉👍🌷

Monday morning and the air is moderate, and sensitive groups should wear a mask outside, run the air purifier and reduce outside exercise. Although if not in any known danger zone, better safe than sorry so I went to the gym for a run and some core workout.

At last, we had Toffee over for an hour in the evening – still in her bodysuit with itchy stitches…

You get cash in the mailbox, and $20 more if you submit the survey

The final countdown… only two weeks left before we turn our lives back to Täby. I leave here with such mixed feelings. So much to do and so little time and so on… But I am so grateful for this opportunity, to come and live here in the US in general, and in NYC on Manhattan in particular. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

❤️

First, I have to write about the commencing week of May – an awful start with lot of violence at a too close range. Monday started with an unhoused man getting killed in the Broadway/Lafayett subway. He had been allegedly yelling and ranting on the train before being subdued by another subway passenger, who chokehold him and it is now ruled as homicide. (Even seen it being covered in the Swedish news).

The day after, there was a slashing on Olle´s campus in Chelsea. There was an altercation between some students from another school connected to the same campus. One hospitalized but luckily without any life threatening injuries…

That same evening, Johan´s friend from primary school was here on holiday and ends up in the hospital nearly bleeding to death, after being attacked by a person with a baseball bat in Soho. Miraculously he is doing well after this head trauma and was able to go home that same week.

Rifle lottery on a bulletin board in the southern of US. Posted by angry person in one of the Swedish groups on Facebook. Also, misspelled…

Enough about those terrible incidents, and Imagine all the people, Livin’ life in peace…🎶

It really wasn´t all bad (except from also a quite tough food poisoning, I omit the all gross parts)… It was also a week full of great hanging out with some of my besties here, Ilze and I had an excellent lunch at Ladurée. Furthermore The Liljelunds had lunch with The Liljerts at Móle on Jane Street, a really tasty Mexican. Plus, Elvira and I were lucky enough to meet up with Karin and sweet little Mimmi at Soho Park on Prince Street for lunch, this was a great day…

And Tilda turned 24 on May 5 🎂🎁🌸🌷🌼🥰🐱❤️🐈.

On May 7 there was a bike race, and a lot of streets were closed to car traffic. This weekend was also full of sunshine, drinks and dinners. I also went to Chelsea to pick up a funny painting from a nice guy named Steffen.

So cool to get this painting, from one Swede to another

Monday morning and Elvira is reading aloud the article by James Baldwin, A Talk to Teachers from 1963. The article is about the history of black slavery will always be a boundary between black and white people in US, as it can never be forgotten. This is actually what Olle has been discussing in ELA in 11th grade, but not wrong for an 8th grader (or for a mother) to read, comprehend and try to analyze. Link to the persuasive essay is found here.

And finally, summer is here and will probably stay until October. ☀️☀️☀️

At last, we have found a spot of lawn for Toffee! She is allowed to walk, sit and lie on it. Unfortunately all she is aiming for is to eat the grass… Later in the afternoon she was all grunting, coughing and almost throwing up. Anyway, she is so adorable and she is sooo in love with Elvira – guaranteed a mutual feeling.

That same Monday it was 37 years since my dad passed away. ❤️ I then was the same age Elvira is now, that puts things into perspective… Here´s an amazing song, a tribute to a parent from a grown up child.

We also had the Exterminator over once again, it seems a hard work to get rid of those ants. They are probably entering our apartment by rappelling the facade from the garden on floor 7… 🤣🤣🐜🐜🐜🐜

Suz and I grabbed a coffee at Laughing Man Cafe last Tuesday and her dog, Lucky, joined the party. It is very interesting to hear about all Suz´s stories, as she has lived here in the city for nearly 30 years…

Last Thursday Elvira and I took a trip over to Staten Island! So glad we did and hopefully I get to go there once more before we go back to Sweden.

On 1 Train down to Whitehall St-South Ferry

Last Friday was a Jay Day! I really enjoy our small talk about music, books and writers, all of which take place during his spinal adjustments and manipulations…

This day I learnt about a book that he is currently reading, called The Memoirs of Stockholm Sven. He also loves Fredrik Backman, adores “Anxious People” and he has even seen the Swedish version of “En man som heter Ove” with Rolf Lassgård. He is still not sure if he wants to see the American version with Tom Hanks. 😉

Furthermore, he strongly recommended me to listen to BBC´s Desert Island Disc, especially the episode featuring Jens Stoltenberg. Jay is really into the Swedish and Nordic cultures, except that he will never get a Dragon Tattoo. 🐉🐉🐉

This same Friday, the temperature hit 87°F and that is relatively hot when in a city. Luckily, we have the Hudson River close by… Toffee also appreciates a cool drink in the shadows.

In the evening we hung out at Nat´s on Bleecker, a neighborhood local restaurant with New York classics but with a touch of whimsy.

Saturday morning and I did my first 10K run since Governors Island. In the afternoon we watched Eurovision (we skipped the broadcasting at the gay bar Hardware, due to no kids allowed 😉 ). And congrats to SWEDEN and Loreen, so cool!

Sunday morning and I awoke really early, since Malin and I were heading for Harlem and to the Misa Gospel Church. It was an exciting experience with African-American vibes and the entire service today was about honoring all mothers. We will give it another try with a Baptist church some other Sunday, where they might sing more of the common gospel we are looking for. But – so sad to see that East side of 116th Street is an area full of only junkies and unhoused people…

About Mother´s Day, it is a really big thing here. Also, two weeks prior to Sweden´s Mors Dag. I received congratulations from both our neighbor Andrew, and from the advisor of Elvira´s former school. In every store you are greeted with a “Happy Mother´s Day” (regardless of whether you have any kiddos around or not). And I got presents! Lots of hair care products – wrapped in gift paper and with rhymes! 💗

In the afternoon, Olle went to the barber for a haircut and then we just hung outside.

Monday 15th and the final day for Olle (if he wants to) to change his options for the Swedish highschool. All papers should be OK, so hopefully it will go smoothly for him to go back to school in Sweden.

We have a fun week ahead of us! Marika och Fredrik are coming here tomorrow and will stay until Sunday. We will probably do a lot of walking and sight seeing since this it´s their first trip to New York.

Next Sunday evening Johan and I are invited to a potluck at Andrew´s place, where we will celebrate AAPI Heritage Month. The Asian American Pacific Islander heritage recognizes the contributions, histories, and cultures of AAPI individuals and communities in the US, and we will be approximately 35 people at the gathering. We still have not figured out what to contribute, I was thinking if we can bring Vira´s classic Swedish “chokladbollar”. 🙂